City of Windsor Administration to Update 2026 Proposed Budget Documents Following Mayor Directed Review of In-Camera Items

In response to Mayor Dilkens’ Mayoral Decision (MD) 23-2025 back in October 2025, City administration prepared a proposed 2026 budget that holds the line on taxes while maintaining funding for the City’s Asset Management Plan and continuing to invest in infrastructure, growth, and development through the 10-year capital plan that includes the largest local road rehabilitation and repair program in the City’s history. 

On December 29, 2025, as part of his legislated responsibilities under the Municipal Act, Mayor Dilkens tabled a fiscally prudent proposed Budget, which focuses on investment, growth, and sustainability, and includes:

• 0% municipal tax levy increase
• $2.26 billion 10-year capital plan – the largest capital budget in the City’s history
• $317.3 million in capital investments for 2026
• Largest local road rehabilitation and repair program in the City’s history, with a 13% increase over 2024
• $163.8 million for roads
• $60.0 million for sewers
• $29.2 million for community services (parks, recreation, facilities, and culture)
• $5.4 million capital investment in public transit

The City’s strategic budgets have ensured that Windsor remains one of the most affordable communities in Ontario, with the City saving Windsor taxpayers a cumulative $1.57 billion from 2008 to 2026. Since 2006, Windsor residents have experienced a total increase in the tax levy of only 24% versus the provincial average of 87%. The average Windsor taxpayer pays approximately $5,402 annually in total residential charges – this includes water, wastewater, stormwater, and property taxes. That is over $1,300 less than the provincial average of $6,778.

As part of the proposed 2026 operating budget, City administration included 54 in-camera items for Council deliberation, exercising an abundance of caution when considering any additions, subtractions, or reorganizations related to staffing.

City Council received the proposed budget documents, including full details of each in-camera item, on December 29, 2025. As part of the ongoing budget process and preparation for upcoming budget meetings, Mayor Dilkens further reviewed the in-camera items. He directed City administration to conduct an additional review, led by the City’s CAO, Chief Financial Officer, Clerk, and Solicitor, to review items being listed as in-camera out of an abundance of caution, and to determine whether those items could be moved to the public document. 

Administration has completed this review and identified the following budget issues below that will now move from in-camera to the public document. These items include a mix of proposed new staff positions, as well as position reductions. The list includes:

• Transit Windsor. Addition of two additional positions to staff complement.
• Public Works. Changes to staff complement. 
• Pollution Control. Addition of one position to staff complement. 
• Housing & Children’s Services. Changes to staff complement. 
• Council Services. Addition of one position to staff complement. 
• Planning and Development Services. Reduction of one vacant position. 
• Employment & Social Services. Reduction of three vacant positions.
• Housing & Children’s Services. Reduction of one vacant position.
• Public Works. Waste Collection Agreement with Windsor Essex Community Housing Corporation. 
• Public Works. Non-Eligible Source Recycling Cost Reductions. 
• Public Works. Reduction of two vacant positions. 
• Corporate Accounts. Change in hours of work per new Local 453 Collective Agreement.
• Transit Windsor. Contractual decreases.
• Building Services. Reduction of funding for vacant position.
• Public Works. Reduction of seasonal staffing for technical support.
• Culture. Reduction in Windsor Sculpture Park seasonal staff complement.
• Parks, Recreation & Facilities. Reduction in seasonal staff complement.
• Public Works. Transportation division optimization. 
• Legal. Reduction of one vacant position.
• Council Services. Reduction of funding for one vacant position.
• Communications. Elimination of one vacant position. 
• Parks, Recreation & Facilities. Reduction of funding for two vacant positions.
• Public Works. Changes to staff complement. 
• Planning & Development Services. Reduction in funding for four vacant positions.
• Engineering. Addition of one temporary project coordinator staff position.
• Engineering. Addition of two senior clerk staff positions. 
• Engineering. Addition of one corporate projects staff position.
• Employment & Social Services. Addition of one information analyst position.
• Employment & Social Services. Addition of two staff trainer positions. 

As a result of additional efficiencies identified through the detailed budget process, City administration has confirmed that there will be no significant or negative impacts to delivery of services. 

The remaining in-camera items include discussions related to such areas as Security of the Property, Disposition of Property, Labour Relations, Contract Negotiations, Solicitor-Client Privilege, and Position-Plan-Procedure. 

City administration is currently working to update the public documents to reflect the results of the review of the in-camera items. The updated documents will be available to the public by 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 7, 2026. 

2026 budget documents have been posted on CityWindsor.ca, in the Budget section under the City Hall menu. 

Pursuant to provincial legislation, City Council has 30 days to propose amendments to the 2026 proposed budget. The public has had access to review the budget since December 29, 2025. Council will hear from delegations on January 12, 2026. At the conclusion of that meeting, Council will decide on the frequency of subsequent deliberations on the budget up to January 26, 2026. Council will meet to deliberate the budget on January 26, 2026.

Quotes:

“I believe in transparency, and with permitting as much of the proposed budget to be made public as is responsible and legally possible. I appreciate the time and effort that City staff have put into preparing these complex documents once again this year, and the extra effort that has gone into this thorough review of the in-camera items. With a 0% budget proposed for 2026, it is understandable that City staff exercised an abundance of caution when it comes to sensitive discussions around items like labour relations, security, contract negotiations, and more. I have no concerns with the items presented in this budget and stand by the path to 0% that has been identified. I care about doing what is right and what is needed for Windsorites. I have been transparent with this budget process, as I am each year, every step of the way. I have said on multiple occasions that there are no sacred cows, and that we would need to look closely at vacant positions, and at finding efficiencies while identifying potential operational and service-level savings. These are difficult but necessary discussions, and I look forward to delegations and deliberations as the budget process moves forward this month. This is a budget that reflects, acknowledges, and works to minimize the pain being felt in our community at a time when cost of living is high, and our economy is under near-constant threat. Building Windsor’s Future requires a continued focus on investment, growth, and sustainability. The times that we are living in demand of us that we keep affordability top of mind while we build our city up.”
- Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens 

“Out of an abundance of caution, a number of items were included in the in-camera portion of the 2026 proposed budget, which are now moving to the public document. Our work to protect sensitive information, including information that might cause unnecessary alarm or distress to potentially impacted staff, and to provide the Mayor and Council with details to often complex issues was never intended to remove transparency from the budget process. The Corporation of the City of Windsor has been recognized for its robust financial health, effective management practices, and our solid commitment to maintaining fiscal responsibility. We remain proud of our track record on transparency and strategic planning, and our ability to meet financial obligations and sustain long-term growth.”
- Janice Guthrie, City Treasurer, Commissioner of Finance, City of Windsor